2
Business View Caribbean
The Government of the United
States Virgin Islands
Governor pledges greater efficiency
The U.S. Virgin Islands consists of nine main islands
and some 75 islets. They were originally inhabited by
the Carib Indians and were explored by Columbus in
1493. Since 1666, England has held six of the main
islands; the remaining three islands – St. Croix, St.
Thomas, and St. John - as well as about 50 islets were
eventually acquired by Denmark and named the Dan-
ish West Indies. In 1917, these islands were purchased
